The final time a crew conceded greater than 200 factors a coach was sacked.
West Coast’s new all-time low is up amongst a number of the worst within the historical past of AFL/VFL.
Not solely was it the 171-point loss the most important of their membership historical past, however the equal fourth largest within the historical past of the league.
And for the second time of their historical past, they conceded greater than 200 factors, almost 26 years since Sydney did it to them first time in 1987.
The 31.19 (205) to five.4 (34) loss will go down as one of many lowest moments in WA sport and can gas the requires change even additional.
Comparisons to Fitzroy earlier than their demise had been warranted earlier than and although West Coast will nonetheless exist past this season, 2023 will likely be remembered equally.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson informed the printed earlier than the sport he wished his facet to be “good at the contest”.
By quarter time you’d questioned if he’d informed his crew, as they had been belted in each side of the sport to path by a whopping 52 factors on the first break.
The numbers had been the stuff of nightmares for the Eagles.
They had been thrashed within the inside 50s (20-6), centre clearances (7-2), contested possession (44-27), uncontested possessions (64-33) and didn’t take a mark inside 50, with the Swans taking 9.
All this regardless of senior gamers like Tim Kelly, Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed and Elliot Yeo enjoying by the midfield.
The younger Swans had been dominant, led by famous person Errol Gulden who had a blistering opening time period with 10 disposals and two targets on his technique to 32 possessions and three targets.
Chad Warner ran everywhere in the dismal Eagles with 33 disposals and two targets, whereas co-captain Luke Parker was distinctive with two targets and 28 touches.
West Coast tried to reply with three of the primary 4 targets of the second time period, however their fightback was extra of a burst.
As has been the case all season, accidents additionally started so as to add salt to the injuries.
Jack Williams was subbed out of the competition early within the second time period with a left ankle harm, whereas Tom Barrass spent two important occasions on the bench and Samo Petrevski-Seton appeared to re-injure his quad.
Sydney had no sympathy although, working throughout West Coast to kick 18 unanswered targets together with 11 within the third quarter alone.
It resembled extra of a coaching drill relatively than a soccer recreation for the Swans because the Eagles seemingly watched their opponents run throughout them.
The returning Logan McDonald supplied a wonderful goal within the absence of Lance Franklin besides 4 targets, whereas his associate in crime Joel Amartey contributed 4 as nicely.
Sydney weren’t wanting goalkickers however with Isaac Heeney slamming house 5 together with three within the third time period, whereas there have been 9 different a number of goalkickers.
There had been few if any Eagles who gained their place on the day and lots of will likely be fortunate that accidents will imply they gained’t be combating for his or her spot within the facet simply but.
SCOREBOARD
SYDNEY 9.4, 14.9, 25.14, 31.19 (205)
WEST COAST 1.0, 4.1, 4.3, 5.4 (34)
Goals – SYDNEY: I Heeney 5 L McDonald 4 J Amartey 4 J McInerney 3 H McLean 3 E Gulden 3 R Clarke 2 Ch Warner 2 L Parker 2 T Papley A Sheldrick R Fox. WEST COAST: J Darling 2 O Allen 2 T Kelly.
Best – SYDNEY: E Gulden Ch Warner I Heeney J Rowbottom L McDonald L Parker. WEST COAST: T Kelly L Shuey R Ginbey E Yeo.
Injuries – SYDNEY: W Hayward (sickness) changed within the chosen facet by R Clarke. WEST COAST: J Williams (ankle) S Petrevski-Seton (quad).
Umpires: L Haussen R O’Gorman C Dore B Wallace. Crowd: 31,367 on the SCG.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au